Freestone peach

ABSTRACT

A peach tree of the freestone class, a moderately vigorous growth habit, bearing fruit which is somewhat larger than average, generally globose in form, and with creamy white flesh, maturing in mid-August in southern California, and characterized by its good eating quality, good keeping quality, and good shipping quality.

This invention relates to the discovery and asexual reproduction of anew variety of freestone peach. The fruit of this variety is juicy. Ithas a pronounced and pleasant aroma. Its creamy-white flesh is ofmelting texture, and a mild and sweet flavor. It ripens in mid-August,in southern California and is best harvested between the twelfth andtwenty-fifth of that month.

The new variety was discovered by David L. Armstrong, in the fields ofArmstrong Nurseries, and was reproduced by him in Wasco, Calif., wherehe asexually reproduced it by budding. The first plant was the result ofa planned cross breeding of the peach Rio Oso Gem, U.S. Plant Pat. No.84, as the seed parent with pollen of the peach Redwing, U.S. Plant Pat.No. 621.

The generic name, or "denomination" of the new variety is "Armdelawhip".

Among the ways in which the new variety differs from its seed parent,Rio Oso Gem, may be mentioned the fact that it is white-fleshed whereasthe seed parent is yellow-fleshed. The fruit of the new variety ripens,usually, about one or two weeks later than that of Rio Oso Gem. The treeof the new cultivar is notably more vigorous than the tree of the seedparent, and its flowers are relatively small, of a salmon-pink color andnot showy, whereas flowers of the Rio Oso Gem are larger, showy andlight pink in color.

Among the ways in which the new variety is distinct from its pollenparent may be mentioned the later ripening season of the new cultivar."Redwing", the pollen parent, usually ripens in or about the third orfourth week of June, whereas this new cultivar ripens considerablylater, usually in the second or third week of August. The fruit of thenew variety is generally somewhat larger than that of Redwing and bearsless of a blush on its skin than does the fruit of the pollen parent.

The accompanying drawings show, in full color, a leaf cluster of the newvariety, full views of the stem end and pistil point of a fruit, andopposite sides of a section through the plane of the suture, the stonebeing included in one view. In the description that follows, and whichrelates to a tree grown in the Wasco district, color designationsbeginning with a small letter are used when the name of that color, asused in common speech, is aptly descriptive. Color designationsbeginning with capital letters represent values based on the NickersonColor Fan, put out by Munsell Color Company.

TREE

The tree is of medium size, of upright-spreading habit, and ofmoderately vigorous growth. Its foliage is dense, and the shape isround. Its hardiness has not yet been tested, but in the Wasco districtit is very productive and bears regularly. The trunk is neither stockynor slender, but intermediate. Its branches are of medium caliper, andare moderately smooth. They are semi-glossy, and their color varies fromnear Strong Yellow Green 5GY6/8 to near Moderate Brown 7.5YR4/5. Thelenticels are few in number, and of medium size.

LEAVES

The leaves, which are of medium thickness, vary from 51/2" to 8" inlength and from about 11/4" to 2" in width. The form is lanceolate, andacutely pointed. The color is dark green. The leaf surface varies fromsmooth to slightly rugose, and the leaf margins are finely serrate andsomewhat undulate. The petiole is of medium length and thickness. Thereare usually about 4 glands, alternately arranged, of medium size andmostly reniform in shape. The stipules fall off early.

BUDS AND FLOWERS

The flower buds are obtuse in shape and medium in size. Their hardinessis untested.

The flowers come into first bloom about March 3, in the Wasco area,which is between average and late in comparison with other peaches inthe neighborhood. The blossoms are small and non-showy. They aresalmon-colored.

FRUIT

The mature fruit is slightly variable in size, ranging from medium tolarge. The axial diameter is from 23/4" to 3"; the diameter transversethe suture plane from 31/4" to 35/8"; and the diameter at right anglesto the suture plane, from 31/4" to 33/4". The form, like the size, isslightly variable and varies from globose to slightly unsymmetrical.

The suture is distinct but shallow, and extends from the base to theapex, where it becomes discontinuous. There is a slight depressionbeyond the pistil point.

The ventral surfaces are rounded and the lips unequal.

Stem and stem cavity.--The stem cavity is flaring in shape and elongatedin the suture plane, with the suture showing on one side. The stemcavity is about half an inch deep, and about one inch broad. The base isrounded to truncate. The apex is short and varies from rounded totruncate; to slightly depressed. The pistil point is short and oblique.

The stem is from about 5/16" to approximately 1/2" in length. It is ofmedium caliper and nearly glabrous. It manifests a normal adherence tothe stone.

Skin.--The skin is of medium thickness. It is tough, and tenacious tothe flesh. It manifests no tendency to crack in a dry season. Its groundcolor is near to, but lighter than, Brilliant Greenish Yellow 7.5Y7/8overlaid lightly to moderately with a color between Moderate Red2.5R4/10 and Dark Red 2.5R3/7. The down varies from moderate to scant.It is short and rolls up when rubbed.

EATING QUALITY OF FRUIT

This description refers to a peach which was eating ripe at the timereported, in this case, on the 20th of August, 1979. The fruit had beenpicked in a firm/ripe state and stored indoors at room temperature for 3days.

FLESH

The flesh was creamy white in color. The surface of the pit cavity wasbetween Dark Reddish Orange, 7.5R4/11, and Dark Red, 5R3/7.

The amygdalin taste was scant; the juice abundant to moderate, and richin viscosity. The texture was medium-fine and melting. The fibres werefew and medium-tender.

The fruit had ripened evenly. Its flavor was mild and sweet. The aromawas pronounced. The eating quality was from good to best.

STONE

The stone is free. It has short fibres. The stone parts from the fleshsmoothly but retains short fibre-like threads along the ridges. The sizeof the stone is medium, being about 13/8" to 13/4" in length and 7/8" to1-3/16" in breadth. Its thickness runs from 11/16" to 7/8". The form ofthe stone is oval but cuneate toward the apex. The base is slightlyoblique; the hilum oblong. The apex is acute. The sides are unequal; thesurface is irregularly furrowed throughout; it is ridged near the baseand toward the apex and is pitted throughout. The ridges are jagged,toward the base and apex.

Some pits in the stone are circular and some are elongated. The ventraledge is medium-thick, and is without wing throughout.

The dorsal edge is medium-thick also with a relatively shallow broadgroove; toward the base. Interrupted ridges are on either side.

The color of the stone is between Strong Brown 2.5YR4/7 and ModerateReddish Brown, 10R3/4.

The stone shows no tendency to split.

The fruit has good marketing qualities, both as to keeping and shipping.It is used primarily as a dessert peach.

The variety has good resistance to insects and from good to mediumresistance to diseases.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of peach of the freestone class,substantially as herein shown and described, and further having, incombination, the following characteristics, namely: a moderatelyvigorous habit of growth, being a regular and heavy bearer, bearingsmall non-showy salmon-pink flowers and bearing fruit in mid-Augustwhich is somewhat larger than average, white-fleshed and globose, ofeating quality from good to best, and having a moderate to abundantsupply of rich, sweet juice.